Another point to note about the SME 3009 series II (and most of it s variants) is that the inner tonearm wire is not up to the standards of modern tonearms. One of the common problems that the 3009 series II tonearm can develop with age is a sagging counterweight, this is caused by hardening of the coupling rubber which secures the tonearm stub to the main tonearm tube.

There are still many examples of the series II in commission thanks to the simplicity of the design of this tonearm they have generally survived the normal effects of aging and continue in fine working order, but even the most meticulously designed pieces of mechanical equipment have parts which give way over time and which need to be replaced. Hallmarks of the SME 3009 / 3012 series II tonearms are the pointed yoke which sits above the saddle bearing, the reverse facing calibrated rod from which the anti-skating weight is hung, the perforated headshell shaped like an archer s shield, the outrigger on which the auxiliary weight for setting VTF is fixed, the sliding base (introduced by SME and still used on the SME V tonearm) and the locking arm rest.

The lineage of the SME 3009 / 3012 series II, goes back to 1959 and ended only recently with the introduction of the M2 series, in The first generation of SME 3009 / 3012 tonearms, were actually introduced in 1959 however, due to the growing popularity of stereo records in the early 60s and the resulting increase in demand for quality tonearms, the series I range were replaced with the series II range which were capable of being produced in larger quantities. These tonearms (and their variants, the 3009 S2 improved, the 30XXR etc) have been staples for analogue reproduction for practically the full duration of their long history. 1 Restoring An Audio Classic, The SME 3009 Series II Tonearm By Brian Kearns Prologue It has been over 40 years since the first samples of the SME 3009 / 3012 series II tonearms rolled off the production line at Steyning.

Sme tonearm repair